Apple’s software program design strives to be intuitive, however every iteration of iOS comprises so many additions and tweaks that it is easy to overlook some helpful iPhone settings. Apple centered on synthetic intelligence when it unveiled iOS 18 in 2024 and adopted it with Liquid Glass in iOS 26 (the identify is now tied to the next 12 months), however many intriguing customizations and lesser-known options lurk beneath the floor. A number of useful settings are turned off by default, and it is not instantly apparent find out how to swap off some annoying options. We’re right here that will help you get probably the most out of your Apple telephone.
After getting issues arrange the way in which you need, it’s a breeze to repeat every part, together with settings, once you swap to a brand new iPhone. For extra suggestions and suggestions, learn our associated Apple guides—just like the Greatest iPhone, Greatest iPhone 16 Circumstances, Greatest MagSafe Equipment—and our explainers on Learn how to Set Up a New iPhone, Learn how to Again Up Your iPhone, and Learn how to Repair Your iPhone.
Learn how to Maintain Your iPhone Up to date
These settings are primarily based on the newest model of iOS 26 and must be relevant for most up-to-date iPhones. Some settings might not be obtainable on older gadgets, or they might have completely different pathways relying on the mannequin and the software program model. Apple gives glorious software program assist for a few years, so at all times ensure your system is up-to-date by heading to Settings > Basic > Software program replace. You’ll find the Settings app on your property display screen.
Up to date September 2025: We’ve added a couple of new iPhone suggestions and up to date this information for iOS 26.
Desk of Contents
Allow Name Screening
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Make cold-calling pests a factor of the previous with Apple’s new Name Screening characteristic. Go to Settings, Apps, and choose Cellphone, then scroll right down to Display screen Unknown Callers and choose Ask Cause for Calling. Now, your iPhone will mechanically reply calls from unknown callers within the background with out alerting you. After the caller offers a purpose for his or her name, your telephone will ring, and you’ll see the response onscreen so you may determine whether or not to reply. You must also ensure Maintain Help Detection is toggled on, so your iPhone detects when you find yourself positioned on maintain, permitting you to step away, then alerting you when the decision has been picked up by a human.
Activate RCS
The texting expertise with Android homeowners (inexperienced bubbles) obtained critically upgraded final 12 months when Apple determined to lastly assist the RCS messaging commonplace (wealthy communication providers). RCS has been round for a number of years on Android, and permits for a modernized texting expertise with options like typing indicators, higher-quality photographs and movies, and browse receipts. Group chats should be wonky, however they’re nonetheless a big enchancment. Nonetheless, on a brand new iPhone, RCS is disabled by default (naturally).
Be sure you flip it on for the perfect messaging expertise. Head to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and toggle it on.
Customise the Management Heart
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Swipe down from the highest proper of the display screen to open the Management Heart, and also you’ll see it is extra customizable than ever. You may faucet the plus icon on the prime left or faucet and maintain on an empty area to open the customization menu. Right here you may transfer icons and widgets round, take away something you don’t need, or faucet Add a Management on the backside for a searchable record of shortcut icons and widgets you may manage throughout a number of Management Heart screens. You too can customise your property display screen to alter the colour and dimension of app icons, rearrange them, and extra.
Change Your Lock Display screen Buttons
You already know these lock display screen controls that default to flashlight on the underside left and digital camera on the underside proper? You may change them. Press and maintain on an empty area on the lock display screen and faucet Customise. Faucet the minus icon to take away an present shortcut, and faucet the plus icon so as to add a brand new one. You too can change the climate and date widgets, the font and shade for the time, and choose a wallpaper. One of many clocks will even stretch to adapt to your wallpaper.
Lengthen Display screen Time-Out
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Whereas it’s good to have your display screen timeout for battery saving and safety functions, I discover it maddening when the display screen goes off whereas I’m doing one thing. The default display screen timeout is just too brief in my view, however fortunately, you may alter it. Head into Settings, Show & Brightness, and choose Auto-Lock to increase it. You may have a number of choices, together with By no means, which suggests you’ll have to manually push the ability button to show the display screen off.
Flip Off Keyboard Sounds
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The iPhone’s keyboard clicking sound once you sort is extraordinarily aggravating. Belief me, even when you don’t hate it, everybody in your neighborhood once you sort positive does. You may flip it off in Settings, Sounds & Haptics by tapping Keyboard Suggestions and toggling Sound off. I additionally advise toggling off the Lock Sound when you’re in Sound & Haptics.
Go Darkish
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Defend your self from eye-searing glare with darkish mode. Go to Settings, choose Show & Brightness, and faucet Darkish. Chances are you’ll want to toggle on Automated and have it change with the solar setting, however I want to be in Darkish mode on a regular basis.
Change Your Battery Cost Degree
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For those who’re decided to squeeze as a few years out of your iPhone battery as potential, contemplate altering the charging restrict. You may maximize your smartphone’s battery well being when you keep away from charging it past 80 p.c. The iPhone’s default is now Optimized Battery Charging, which waits at 80 p.c after which goals to hit 100% when you find yourself able to go within the morning. However there’s a slider you may set to a tough 80 p.c restrict in Settings, beneath Battery, and Charging. If it bugs you, that is additionally the place you may flip Optimized Battery Charging off.
Flip On Adaptive Energy Mode
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For those who get frightened about working out of battery, go to Settings, Battery, and scroll down to pick out Energy Mode, the place you may toggle on Adaptive Energy. This mode will detect when you find yourself utilizing extra battery life than regular and make little tweaks, like decreasing show brightness or limiting efficiency, to attempt to get you thru to the tip of the day.
Set Up the Motion Button
People with an iPhone 15 Professional mannequin, any iPhone 16 mannequin, or any iPhone 17 have an Motion Button as a substitute of the previous mute swap. By default, it should silence your iPhone once you press and maintain it, however you may change what it does by going to Settings, then Motion Button. You may swipe by numerous primary choices from Digital camera and Flashlight to Visible Intelligence, however choose Shortcuts if you’d like it to do one thing extra attention-grabbing. For those who’re unfamiliar, take a look at our information on Learn how to Use the Apple Shortcuts App.
Customise Digital camera Management
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
The iPhone 16 collection debuted Digital camera Management, a bodily button that sits beneath the ability button and triggers the digital camera with a single press. Once you’re within the digital camera app, urgent it should seize a photograph, and a long-press will document a video. Urgent and holding Digital camera Management exterior of the digital camera app triggers Apple’s Visible Intelligence characteristic (type of like Google Lens). However what I discover most annoying is Digital camera Management’s second layer of controls: swiping. You may swipe on the button within the digital camera app to slip between images kinds, zoom ranges, or lenses. It is neat in idea, however means too delicate.
